Piano-hammer



Patented June 29,1897.

A. DOLGE.

PIANO HAMMER.

I'z'gf m m N m m m m M r w 4 u fl n B 2 1. /0 Z 1 w M & m r 4 T d (I1 J H 2 Vl IRIUWII 1. M/

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED DOLGE, OF DOLGEVILLE, NElV YORK.

PlANO-HAMM ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 585,557, dated June 29, 1897.

Application filed January 29, 1897. Serial No. 621,194. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED DOLGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dolgeville, inthe county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Piano-Hamm ers, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved piano-hammer molding, which object is accomplished in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a treble hammer molding for a piano. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows atreblehammer. Figs. 4:, 5, and 6 show views, like Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of a bass hammer.

The piano-han1mer molding is made from one piece of wood and its stem or base part is shown at 1 and 2. A cut or saw-kerf 3 forms tines or a forked portion 4C. This 011113 is formed central to the molding and extends part way from itshead end or felt connecting part toward its base or end 1. After the wood or molding has been thus out it is steamed, and when thus properly softened or made pliable it is bent to the form for receiving the felt 5. The grain of the wood runs in the direction of the bend or along the tines 4. The molding thus formed or forked is adapted to inclose or clasp the outside of the hammer-felt 5, as seen in Figs. 3 and 6. The hammer-felt striking against the wire or string of a piano or instrument is apt to be flattened or to lose shape. By having the molding fork or tines 4 extended about the greater part of the felt or about more than half of the edge of the felt, as seen in Figs. 3 and 6, the flattening or unshaping of the felt is prevented or resisted. By having the felt bulged or rounded and the fork made to clasp or extended about or beyond the bulge or widest part,or, as it may be called, the belly of the felt, the latter is not only firmly or securely held against detachment or displacement, but said fork also serves to maintain the felt in shape. By leaving sufficient felt projecting from or free of the tines or fork the clear well-known elastic stroke of the felt is maintained, and the felt being firmly or unyieldingly held by the fork is capable of giving a powerful stroke and producing a powerful tone.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A piano-hammer molding formed from a single piece of wood steamed and bent into fork shape so as to be adapted for inclosing or clasping the outside of the hammer-felt substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED DOLGE.

Witnesses WILLIAM DOLGE, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

